March madness (basketball) comments

I'll assume the remark about football not requiring a week between games was a joke. If not, you've obviously never played the sport.

As for brackets...that I agree with. If Div. II/III schools can do it with a 16 team format...so can Div. I. Last I check, the lower divisions were doing just fine with graduation rates. The excuses are driven by money that can be maximized by the power conferences with the current setup.

__________________"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

Every year there are a few suprise teams, but in the end, the process mostly validates the seeding done by the committee. Am really looking forward to seeing more of the matchups.

I will echo borromini's comments - if the division II & III schools can have a national championship playoff in football, so can the division I teams. No reason not to do so other than objections by the existing bowls.

I'll assume the remark about football not requiring a week between games was a joke. If not, you've obviously never played the sport.

As for brackets...that I agree with. If Div. II/III schools can do it with a 16 team format...so can Div. I. Last I check, the lower divisions were doing just fine with graduation rates. The excuses are driven by money that can be maximized by the power conferences with the current setup.

Nope nojoke I have played the game and honestly found it to be less taxing than playing hockey. I was a wideout in HS and honestly I used more energy and more brainpower playing a hockey game than I ever did playing any football game. After a game I felt like I could go and play another game easily couldnt always say that for hockey though ind you we would often play more than one game in a day.

The Little Rock newspaper lists the football injuries and estimated time out of action (John Doe, sprained ankle, 3 days) after Razorback football games. The team does start practice again on Mondays, but the players do need some recovery time. This is probably more true for the offensive & defensive line and running backs, although a passing quarterback may have a sore arm (and ribbs, if his blocking wasn't good).

So I do think that a football playoff would need a week between games. If 16 teams were chosen, all 16 would play one game, 8 would play 2 games, 4 would play 3 games and 2 would play 4 games. So for most of the teams this would not be a big deal - just one or two game more.

Nope nojoke I have played the game and honestly found it to be less taxing than playing hockey...

Never played hockey, but played football in HS and college and I had a very different experience than yours. After a game...we needed the week to recover. Either we in the US are wimps when playing FB or you maple-leaf boys aren't sticking hard enough. One more note...the hits/sticks in college are substantially more intense than they are in HS. Then take that to another level for the pros.

__________________"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

Never played hockey, but played football in HS and college and I had a very different experience than yours. After a game...we needed the week to recover. Either we in the US are wimps when playing FB or you maple-leaf boys aren't sticking hard enough. One more note...the hits/sticks in college are substantially more intense than they are in HS. Then take that to another level for the pros.

Oh I am not doubting that but I think it also goes to the fact that up here our guys especially hockey players will play through more pain than many athletes ever would. Look to hockey for instance a hockey player will take a puck or stick in the face go in get stitched up and try not to miss his next shift if possible. I personally have broken the scafoid bone in both wrists (not at the same time LOL) and after 4 days of wearing my cast took a saw and cut it off to get out and play even though it was supposed to be on for 8 weeks. Our boys would do anything to get back out on the ice for our next shift game etc. It is funny they show at spring training they interview baseball players as the hockey playoffs are usually underway and the ball players can't understand how hockey players can get so beat up and head back out on teh ice with the injuries they sustain I am sure the same goes for football players to. I still think 2 games a week would be doable for football players. Hockey players have multiple games and practices a week 82 game sched and atleast 4 practices a week.

Good thing you clarified the wrist comment...for a second there I had this image of you with a cast around each wrist...flying down the ice with a murderous grin on your face!

As for game frequency, I'll agree for HS...but I think we'll have to agree to disagree when it comes to major college ball or pro's. While it's admirable to find ways to cut down rehab from 8 to 4 weeks, applying that standard on a week-to-week basis would probably shorten the average NFL career to 3 years. Not taking anything away from hockey and the necessary toughness...I still think you're underestimating the differences in body wear/tear between the two sports. In the end...no big deal.

__________________"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

Good thing you clarified the wrist comment...for a second there I had this image of you with a cast around each wrist...flying down the ice with a murderous grin on your face!

As for game frequency, I'll agree for HS...but I think we'll have to agree to disagree when it comes to major college ball or pro's. While it's admirable to find ways to cut down rehab from 8 to 4 weeks, applying that standard on a week-to-week basis would probably shorten the average NFL career to 3 years. Not taking anything away from hockey and the necessary toughness...I still think you're underestimating the differences in body wear/tear between the two sports. In the end...no big deal.

Agreed and I find it amazing on both counts for the athletes of both those sports and what they put their bodies through.